Ex-Grass Lake star John Lesinski stars at linebacker for Albion College

Scott Stoner • For the Citizen PatriotAlbion sophomore linebacker John Lesinski intercepts a pass in Saturday’s 30-13 loss to Millikin University. Lesinski, a former Grass Lake player, added five solo tackles and assisted on five more in his first career start.John Lesinski is moving up, and over, on the football depth chart at Albion College.

More importantly, the sophomore is back on the playing field.

Lesinski, a Grass Lake High School graduate, came into the 2009 season listed as one of the Britons' 29 — yes, 29 — defensive backs. After three games, Lesinski has jumped from defensive back to inside linebacker on the depth chart, and he's enjoying his time back in the middle of the action.

What has propelled Lesinski to a spot in the Albion defensive game plan is no secret.

"It's all about working hard in practice," Lesinski said. "When you get your opportunity, you've got to make the most of it, and I think I did that when I got in for the first time.

"It was pretty cool. I just kept thinking about all the work I had to put in, all the stupid mornings waking up in the summer when you don't want to wake up."

An injury to a teammate in the Britons' second game of the season at Thiel gave Lesinski a chance. He went out and grabbed the coaches' attention with an interception and played well enough to earn his first career start the following week against Millikin.

In that game, Lesinski picked off another pass and was the team's second-leading tackler with five solos and five assists. He also had a pass break-up and played on special teams.

Lesinski is hoping to play a key role again when Albion (0-3) faces visiting Olivet (0-4) at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Lesinski, at 5 feet, 11 inches and 190 pounds, is undersized for an inside linebacker. Albion linebackers coach Ron Parker said coaches weren't sure the former all-conference player from the Cascades Conference would be able to hold his own in the middle of the defense.

"John's still got a lot to learn, and hopefully he'll get bigger and stronger," Parker said. "What he lacks in size, he makes up for in quickness."

Lesinski said that one of the toughest things about college football was sitting on the sidelines his freshman year, waiting and hoping for playing time that was not guaranteed.

"He's had to go from being a big fish in a little pond in high school to being a little fish in a big pond," Parker said.

Lesinski said he's learning to be patient, but that particular part of playing college football is not easy.

"I came here to play and not sit," Lesinski said. "I missed playing. There's nothing like actually going out there every series and flying around, and talking out on the field."

And, of course, a few interceptions and more than a few tackles will help a guy get noticed.

"I'm pretty undersized for a linebacker," Lesinski said. "I just go out and try to be faster than everybody, especially the (other) linebackers.

"When I was in high school, a lot of people said that Division III might not have a lot of big, fast kids, but that isn't true at all. It's college football. I don't care what anyone says."

Parker said Lesinski also has the intangible that doesn't show up in the program.

"A lot of our players aren't Division I in terms of size, but they have the heart," Parker said. "For guys like John, it's almost ‘pay to play.' He needs to continue to work hard."